Spot-on Ronaldo and record-breaker Giggs clinch title glory for United

By MATT LAWTON

Last updated at 23:20 11 May 2008

When Manchester United finally crossed the finish line yesterday, they did so more with a stumble and a stagger than a swagger. But they crossed it ahead of Chelsea and, for all their good fortune here at Wigan, deservedly so.

This was an extraordinary contest. One that will be remembered as much for three first half decisions from Steve Bennett as the moment when Ryan Giggs marked his record-equalling appearance with the goal that secured a 10th Barclays Premier League title both for himself and the club he has served with such distinction.

But the best team in England lifted the trophy at the JJB Stadium and if they now follow this with victory in Moscow next week Sir Alex Ferguson will rate them even higher than that. Not just the finest side of the season but the finest in his 22 years at Old Trafford.

Take nothing away from Chelsea. They too have been terrific over the course of the last nine months, somehow overcoming the sudden departure of Jose Mourinho to turn this into the closest title race in years. Credit should go to Avram Grant as well as his remarkable players, and they too will now move on to Moscow all the more determined to deny United a European and domestic double. Determined and, it has to be said, extremely dangerous given their form of recent weeks.

It is United, however, who ended the league campaign two points ahead of them. United who scored 80 goals to Chelsea's 65. United who seem to possess style and substance in equal measure, striking the kind of balance that has been beyond both Chelsea and Arsenal.

That said, United struggled to find that balance yesterday. As much as they struggled to compete against a Wigan Athletic side that more than made sure they could never be accused of undermining the integrity of the competition. They were excellent, not only demonstrating how they conquered Aston Villa the previous weekend but how they managed to take what proved two vital points off Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Those who thought Steve Bruce would do his old club a favour discovered yesterday that they had in fact got the wrong Steve. It was Bennett who appeared to be on United's side, so bizarre was his performance as referee.

Bruce, understandably, was furious. How did he fail to award Wigan a penalty in the 22nd minute when Rio Ferdinand so blatantly used his arm to deflect a Jason Koumas shot for a corner? How did he then have the conviction to award United a penalty for what was a much closer call after Wayne Rooney had collapsed under a challenge from Emmerson Boyce? And why, and this is something his employers at the Premier League should study closely, did he not decide to dismiss Paul Scholes four minutes after that for what looked like a second yellow card offence on Wilson Palacios?

Even Ferguson's bum would have been squeaking had Wigan secured the lead after 22 minutes. Not least because his side had started so badly, the pressure seemingly affecting them more than they would probably care to admit.

The sight of Edwin van der Sar diverting a Marcus Bent header over his crossbar had an animated Ferguson on his feet, and when Ferdinand then used his left arm to guide a missile from Koumas away from his goal for a corner United's manager must have been very concerned indeed.

Then, though, Rooney secured the penalty, Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and not only exorcised the ghosts of Barcelona but scored his 41st goal of an exceptional season and United started to relax. Well, everyone at United except the reckless Scholes.

The thunder and lightning in the clouds above perfectly reflected the anger among all those associated with Wigan, their mood turning darker still when Nemanja Vidic cleared off the line and Bent sent an effort into the side-netting.

They had just small slice of luck when Bennett then failed to award what would have been a second penalty for United when Titus Bramble, who was otherwise impressive, hacked down Scholes. But it did little to ease the sense of resentment and, let's face it, jealousy.

As the pitch became heavier, so Ferguson saw the need for change. Off went Scholes and on went Giggs. Not quite in that order but for reasons that Ferguson explained afterwards. While he rightly said Scholes was even more at risk to a second yellow card on a wet surface, he made the point in horse-racing parlance that the poise and balance of Giggs makes him brilliant on 'soft ground'.

Which, of course, proved to very much be the case when the Welshman who was matching Sir Bobby Charlton's appearance record emerged between Wigan's centre-halves in the 80th minute. No sooner had he received a super pass from Rooney than he was guiding his shot past an advancing Kirkland.

At that moment Ferguson could not contain his emotion and nor could his players. While Ferguson jumped into the arms of Carlos Quieroz, every player including Van der Sar piled on top of Giggs.

It was followed, once the trophy had been presented and the medals handed out, by something even rarer than a game without a goal from Ronaldo. A post Premier League match press conference with Ferguson that was actually far more entertaining than the match.

"I want to thank you all for your brilliant journalism this season," he said. "You've enthralled me with your honesty, your integrity, and your nonsense."

"Likewise," came the reply, and after the accusations that were levelled at Bolton on Friday and the claim that, at best, Rooney would start this one on the bench, it was Ferguson who laughed loudest of all.